The Wall Street Journal Weekly Quiz s7

The Wall Street Journal Education Program

Weekly Review & Quiz

Covering front-page articles from Oct 27- Nov 2, 2007

Answers Fall 2007

Developed by: Scott R. Homan Ph.D., Purdue University

1. Ways to protect yourself and your electronics from lightning strikes include

a. buying expensive surge protectors

b. staying inside and reading a book

c. unplugging all electronic devices

d. all of the above Correct

2. In the first nine months of this year, ___people were killed by lightning strikes in the US, and all were outside doing things such as playing golf, fishing or standing under a tree, according to the National Weather Service.

a. 21

b. 31

c. 41 Correct

d. 51

3. Possible replacements for Merrill Lynch & Co Chief Executive Stan O'Neal include

a. Laurence Fink

b. Kennedy Thompson

c. Greg Fleming

d. Both a and c Correct

4. “Mother Merrill” is a company culture known for

a. it’s draconian nature

b. being willing to accept lower profit margins in order to keep longtime loyal employees on the payroll Correct

c. it’s constant re-structuring

d. both a and b

5. The Consumer Product Safety Commission is a tiny federal agency charged with regulating at least ______types of consumer products, from toys to all-terrain vehicles to mattresses.

a. 5,000

b. 15,000 Correct

c. 50,000

d. 150,000

6. A bill that would substantially boost fines, add staffers and increase transparency at the embattled Consumer Product Safety Commission is moving through the Senate. The bill's provisions, include the increase of fines to a maximum of ____ from $1.85 million.

a. $5 million

b. $10 million

c. $100 million Correct

d. $500 million

7. The ______is the Fed's key decision-making body, comprising the Fed's five current governors in Washington and presidents of the 12 regional Fed banks.

a. Federal Open Banking Committee

b. Federal Closed Banking Committee

c. Federal Open Market Committee Correct

d. Federal Closed Market Committee

8. In rising numbers homeowners with _____, those made to the least credit worthy home buyers, have been delinquent on payments.

a. adjustable rate mortgages

b. 30 year balloon mortgages

c. subprime mortgages Correct

d. prime mortgages

9. The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by ______, but with an eye on surging energy prices and other inflationary threats, it strongly discouraged expectations of further cuts.

a. a quarter point Correct

b. a half point

c. two points

d. a full point

10. Mr. Bernanke has been ____ his predecessor Alan Greenspan to try to steer market expectations.

a. more inclined than

b. less inclined than Correct

c. equally inclined as

d. greatly more inclined than

11. One of the biggest scandals in Japan's foreign community in years affecting more than 4,000 foreign language teachers involved which company:

a. Killion

b. Qantas

c. Pink Bunny

d. Nova Correct

12. The Japanese language company with a wildly popular marketing campaign featuring a cheeky pink bunny mascot, required students to buy _____ lessons to get the cheapest price.

a. 60

b. 100

c. 600 Correct

d. 1000

13. Blackstone Group LP announced today that it has lured ______, the chief executive of a lodging industry rival, to lead recently acquired Hilton Hotels Corp as it pursues an ambitious growth strategy and plans to boost the hotelier's standing in the luxury market.

a. John Schreiber

b. Christopher Nassetta Correct

c. Jonathan Gray

d. Will Marks

14. During a job interview it is recommended that you

a. blabber endlessly about irrelevant information

b. supply elaborate details

c. define yourself concisely Correct

d. give only one word replies to any and all questions

15. Both the Enclave and Acadia are selling almost as fast as dealers get them. At the end of September, GM had a 21-day supply of Enclaves, and a 49-day supply of Acadias. The Outlook hasn't sold as well and its stock is higher -- 73 days' supply. A supply of ____ days or less is considered healthy.

a. 25

b. 45

c. 65 Correct

d. 85

16. ______, known as “Biotown, USA”, with a population of 521, seems an ideal location for an experiment in biofuels. It is at the intersection of two highways and two rail lines, near research facilities at Purdue University and close to an abundance of corn, hogs and cattle.

a. Akron, Iowa

b. Reynolds, Indiana Correct

c. Grafton, North Dakota

d. Albion, Nebraska

17. From a little-known federal program known as EB-5, or the immigrant-investor visa, for a ______investment in a distressed area, a foreigner and his immediate family become eligible for conditional green cards. They become permanent a few years later upon evidence that the investment has created at least 10 jobs for US workers.

a. $50,000

b. $500,000 Correct

c. $5,000,000

d. $50,000,000

18. As ______multiply and pursue a fast-changing set of investment strategies, it's a challenge for investors to separate winners from the flops. Several new online tools can help.

a. bonds and stocks

b. mutual funds and bonds

c. mutual funds and ETFs Correct

d. stocks and ETFs

19. The confluence of a slowing US economy and rising ____ is something new.

a. labor costs

b. oil costs

c. energy costs

d. commodity costs Correct

20. Crude futures for December delivery rose $1.67, or 1.8%, to _____ a barrel. It was the seventh record close this month, leaving oil up 53% so far this year at the New York Mercantile Exchange.

a. $63.53

b. $73.53

c. $83.53

d. $93.53 Correct

21. Economists polled by Dow Jones Newswires estimate gross domestic product grew at an annual rate of 3.2%, down from the second quarter's 3.8%. The last time the economy grew at a better-than-3% rate for two quarters in a row was in ______, when the Fed started raising rates.

a. 1999

b. 2000

c. 2002

d. 2004 Correct

22. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority is charged with keeping the local currency pegged to the _____ in a trading band of HK$ 7.75 to 7.85 Hong Kong dollars.

a. Yuan

b. Euro dollar

c. US dollar Correct

d. Mexican Peso

23. Year over year declines in manufacturing payrolls exceeded ____ in August and September, the biggest drops since early 2004.

a. 10,000

b. 20,000

c. 100,000

d. 200,000 Correct

24. The new Virgin airlines has lowered the price to under $300 for this market

a. Los Angeles to Las Vegas

b. Los Angeles to Honolulu

c. Los Angeles to New York Correct

d. Los Angeles to San Francisco

25. Some helpful advice for modern doctor appointments include

a. checking that a doctor has your lab results before going to an appointment.

b. bringing family members or a trusted friend, not only for moral support, but to act as another set of eyes and ears to listen to what the doctor is saying and to help organize questions

c. patients should prepare a full report of any symptoms or concerns prior to the doctor's visit

d. all of the above Correct

26. The current trend in dating for high school and college students includes

a. an increase in casual “hook-up” relationships

b. lack of interest in formal events like dances

c. boys have to call girls on Wednesday for a Saturday date

d. both a and b Correct